Decatur City Council Supports $43 Million Cook Museum Expansion

Decatur museum’s nearly $30 million expansion includes hotel, parking deck

Cook Museum of Natural Science in Decatur is moving forward with expansion plans that include more classroom, exhibit and presentation space, a parking deck, and a hotel.

Decatur City Council approves expansion to create North Alabama STEM Center

The Decatur City Council has voted 4–1 to partner with the Cook Museum of Natural Science on a major expansion that would nearly double the museum’s size and establish it as the state-designated North Alabama STEM Center. Backed by a $9.5 million state appropriation during the 2025 legislative session, the project is modeled on Alabama’s earlier investment in the Tuscaloosa-based Saban Center, designated as West Alabama’s STEM hub.  The Cook Mus…

Decatur City Council supports $43 million Cook Museum expansion

DECATUR, Ala. (WHNT) — The Decatur City Council voted to approve support for an expansion at the Cook Museum of Natural Science during a special-called meeting on Monday. The expansion, which will also be designated as the North Alabama STEM Center thanks to the city council's vote, will nearly double the museum's size from 63,000 to 120,000 square feet. More exhibit spaces, STEM classrooms and visitor amenities will be added at the Cook Museum.…

City of Decatur approves new expansion for Cook Museum - Hville Blast

The Cook Museum in Decatur is about to see a major expansion after the Decatur City Council voted to proceed with the project.

UPDATE: Council approves Cook Museum request for city to build parking deck to facilitate expansion

The Cook Museum of Natural Science has a $20 million expansion planned to go along with a new hotel, and the Decatur City Council on Monday afternoon approved paying for a new parking deck to facilitate the project.